sidesplitting

American  

[sahyd-split-ing] / ˈsaɪdˌsplɪt ɪŋ /

adjective

1. convulsively uproarious.

   sidesplitting laughter.

2. producing uproarious laughter; extremely funny.

   sidesplitting farce.

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Other Word Forms

• sidesplittingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of sidesplitting

First recorded in 1855–60; side ¹ + splitting

Explanation

Anything that makes you laugh out loud can be described as sidesplitting. If you are a stand-up comedian, your dream is to tell one sidesplitting joke after another. If you've ever laughed so hard that tears streamed down your face, or so uproariously that you nearly fell out of your chair, you know what sidesplitting means. This informal adjective is perfect for describing that kind of laughter. Originally spelled with a hyphen, side-splitting, and defined as "affecting with compulsive laugher," it first appeared around 1820.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sidesplitting

And while much of the movie induces sidesplitting guffaws, Tremaine said that producer and co-creator Spike Jonze was eager to highlight the sensitive beats shared between the cast.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

Before she broke out in 1988’s “Beetlejuice,” O’Hara was mainly known for her sidesplitting impressions on “SCTV,” parodying outsized icons such as Lucille Ball, Tammy Faye Bakker and Katharine Hepburn.

From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2026

The moment is a typical Bondian bad-guy intro, and yet because of the facetiously serious tone and absurd context around it, it’s absolutely sidesplitting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 19, 2024

Her every leap from the shadows is a hilarious, sidesplitting motif.

From New York Times ● Dec. 2, 2022

What she said was sidesplitting enough, but her gestures, her expression and her voice were beyond description.

From The Camp Fire Girls' Larks and Pranks or, The House of the Open Door by Frey, Hildegard G. (Hildegard Gertrude)